In this article, John Paull and Tord Tutturen shed light on the early actors of the biodynamic movement in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. A total of 50 pioneers are identified who joined the ‘Experimental Circle of Anthroposophical Farmers and Gardeners’ between 1924 and 1946. These pioneers played an essential role in the development and spread of biodynamic agriculture in the region, although they found themselves in an environment that was increasingly characterised by industrial agriculture and the use of agrochemicals. Steiner's Agricultural Course (1924) emphasised a biologically oriented agriculture that viewed the farm as a living organism, as opposed to a chemical-mechanistic approach.
Among the Nordic countries, the largest number of members of the Experimental Circle came from Norway (23), followed by Sweden (12), Denmark (10) and Finland (5). These pioneers consisted of both men (35) and women (14) (for one person, no gender information could be found). The participation of these actors contributed to the fact that biodynamic agriculture is still practised in these countries today.
These pioneers also laid an important foundation for today's organic agriculture in the Nordic countries, as its development can be traced back to biodynamic agriculture. Today, Sweden has the highest proportion of organically farmed land (20.2 %), followed by Finland (14.4 %), Denmark (11.4 %) and Norway (4.6 %). However, the proportion of biodynamic land in these countries is relatively small compared to the total organically farmed land.
The fact that these pioneers were willing to test and implement Steiner's principles at a time when chemical-industrial agriculture dominated shows their visionary approach and their contribution to the development of an alternative agricultural practice. For the long-term establishment of sustainable farming methods, their work was of great importance for the entire region. Identifying and honouring these pioneers not only provides historical insights, but also a basis for future research and development in biodynamic agriculture.
Sources and further links to this article
- Original article: Paull, J., Tutturen, T. (2024) Nordic Pioneers of Biodynamic and Organic Agriculture. European Journal of Development Studies, 4(1), 23-30. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejdevelop.2024.4.1.336
- The complete list of Nordic members of the ‘Experimental Circle of Anthroposophic Farmers and Gardeners’:
Name | Place | Date issued | No. | M/F | Country |
Carl Vett | Springforbi, Dänemark | [28.5.1926] | 32 | M | Denmark |
Herr Henryk Wärnjhelm | <blank> | [28.5.1926] | 87 | M | Finland |
Uno Donner | Finnland | [c.1928] | 174 | M | Finland |
Herr C. Krebs | Dyne per Strömstade | [c.1928] | 230 | M | Sweden |
Frau A[nna] Wager-Gunnarsson* | Brahegatan 10, Stockholm, Schweden | [c.1928] | 235 | F | Sweden |
Herr Albin Leonhardtson | Stockholm, Schweden | 3.7.1929 | 257A | M | Sweden |
Herr [Karl] Döbelin | Waldhaus Malsch, Amt Ettlingen | 15.11.1929 | 277 | M | Germany |
Herr Louis Schubert | Saltsjöe, Storängen, Stockholm | 21.4.1930 | 341 | M | Sweden |
Frau Mulin | Saterön-Gryts, Schweden | 26.11.1930 | 378 | F | Sweden |
Frau Svanhild Höyem | Gudesgate 7, Trondheim, Norwegen | 17.4.1931 | 394 | F | Norway |
Frl Hanne-Sofie Jebsen | Kalvedalsvei 45a, Bergen, Norwegen | 12.10.1931 | 506 | F | Norway |
Herr Olav Funderud | Via Herrn K. Döbelin in Slitu, Norwegen | 17.11.1931 | <bl> | M | Norway |
Herr Johanns Busch | Via Herrn K. Döbelin in Slitu, Norwegen | 17.11.1931 | <bl> | M | Norway |
Herr Alf Larsen | Tjömö, Norwegen | 13.4.1932 | 529 | M | Norway |
Herr Hallvard Blekastad | Gausdal, Norwegen | 22.6.1932 | 532 | M | Norway |
Frl Ida Sofie Hansen*** | Kongsberg, Norwegen | 22.6.1932 | 533 | F | Norway |
Frau Ellen Solum | Fougstadgaten 29, Oslo | 22.6.1932 | 534 | F | Norway |
Johannes Busch | Spydeberg, Norwegen | 23.7.1932 | 542 | M | Norway |
Herr Olaf Funderud | Mysen, Norwegen | 23.7.1932 | 543 | M | Norway |
Herr H O Tomasgaard | Spydeberg, Norwegen | 25.7.1932 | 544 | M | Norway |
Herr Chr[istian] Morgenstierne | Teatergt. 7, Oslo | 25.7.1932 | 545 | M | Norway |
Herr Ernst Trier Fink | Bügebjerg, Aabenraa, Dänemark | 15.2.1933 | 558 | M | Denmark |
Hr. Elis Hjorth | Kopenhagen | 27.9.1933 | 569 | M | Denmark |
Frl Ingeborg Skulberg | Spydeberg in Ostfold, Norwegen | 2.2.1934 | 586 | F | Norway |
Frau Fröhlich Stenersen | Ljan St, Norwegen | 2.2.1934 | 587 | F | Norway |
Baron Holger Rosenkrantz | c/o K Döbelin, N[orth] Sletner, Slitu St, Norwegen | 17.9.1934 | 596 | M | Norway |
Kurt Falk | Gut Gl. Klingstrup-Fünen, Dänemark | 17.9.1934 | 597 | M | Denmark |
Hans Briegel | Mysen, Østfold Hoisdrs, Norwegen | 3.1.1936 | 624 | M | Norway |
Gustav Ritter | Box 39 Mikaelgarden, Södertälje | 26.6.1936 | 634 | M | Sweden |
Graf Erich Bernstorff-Gyldensteen | Gyldensteen, Hogense, Dänemark | 12.10.1936 | 642 | M | Denmark |
Baron Preben Emil Wedell-Wedellsborg | Hellerupgaard, Hellerup, Dänemark | 12.10.1936 | 643** | M | Denmark |
Frl Anni Elauider | Luantola, Nummela, Finland | 18.1.1937 | 645 | F | Finland |
Olav Aukrust | Lom b. Lillehammer, Norwegen | 3.5.1937 | 655 | M | Norway |
Herbert Prausnitz | Borgja, Bö in Telemark, Norwegen | 10.6.1937 | 657 | M | Norway |
Ove Thomassen | Austmarka, Norwegen | 17.1.1938 | 665 | M | Norway |
Frau S. Tharaldsen-Ruud | Hof Skjeggerud, Sylling, Lier, Norwegen | 23.8.1938 | 678 | F | Norway |
Hr O[le] Elstrup Rasmussen | Holsbaeck, Dänemark [Wedellsborg copy reissued] | 30.9.1938 | 643** | M | Denmark |
Sigurd M. Rascher | Åkarp, Schweden | 9.11.1938 | 680 | M | Sweden |
Carl Yngve Krafft | Linga Gård, Järna, Schweden | 19.12.1938 | 682 | M | Sweden |
Carl Brumberg-Hansen | Øresundsvej 6, Ordrup, Kopenhagen | 8.4.1939 | 690 | M | Denmark |
Frau Jenny Brumberg Hansen | Øresundsvej 6, (Charlottenlund) | 8.4.1939 | 691 | F | Denmark |
Henrielli Voss-Schrader | De Geerrgat 14 VII, Stockholm | 18.11.1939 | 699 | F | Sweden |
Paul Schneider | Järna bei Stockholm | 31.1.1940 | 702 | M | Sweden |
B. Wolontis | Grankulla, Finnland. ohne Verpf. Erkl. | 29.4.1942 | 727 | ? | Finland |
Frl M Luther | Pohjolag 62, Kottby, Helsingfors (ohne Verpf. Erklärung) | 6.5.1942 | 729 | F | Finland |
Rut Nilsson | Wimmerby [Vimmerby], Schweden (ohne Verpf. Erklärung) | 20.10.1942 | 734 | F | Sweden |
Bo Sturen | Linga Gård, Järna, Schweden | 24.1.1946 | 758 | M | Sweden |
Egil Kristiansen | Björgin, Garmo, Gubrandsdal, Norwegen | 29.1.1946 | 759 | M | Norway |
Hr. O[le] Bagge-Olsen | Roserholm, Hornslet, Dänemark (via Frau Inge Hansen, Kopenhagen) | 23.3.1946 | 762 | M | Denmark |
Johan Nicolaysen | Nordsetervei 34, Lillehammer, Norwegen | 26.10.1946 | 775 | M | Norway |
Herr Alf. H[off] Kvaernø | Trondhjem, Norwegen | 21.12.1946 | 796 | M | Norway |
